Low latency interconnect protocol for coherent multi-chip communication

Abstract

In one embodiment, a data message is generated at a first system-on-chip (SOC) for transmission to a second SOC. A stream of data words is generated from the data message, the data words alternating between even and odd data words. Each data word in the stream of data words is divided into a first pattern of slices for even data words and a second pattern of slices for odd data words, with the slices distributed across plural output ports at the first SOC. At each output port, two slices from two successive cycles are grouped. The grouped slices are encoded using an encoding scheme to produce an N-bit symbol at M-bits per cycle, alternating between high and low parts of the encoding. Plural metaframes are generated from a stream of symbols and the metaframes for each of the output ports are transmitted to the second SOC.